VERICUT Drilling & Fastening (VDAF) is a software application for simulating and programming auto-drilling & fastening machines. VDAF is independent of both the machine and CAD system.
When working with expensive airframe assemblies, the cost of drilling or fastening mistakes is high! How much time do you spend avoiding them?
VERICUT Drilling & Fastening (VDAF) can help you avoid problems such as:
Drilled hole or fastener in wrong position
Missed hole or fastener
Wrong hole size or fastener in right position
Hole not drilled through the stack
Hole double-drilled or double-filled
Wrong fastener for material stack
Collision with structure
Collision with tooling
Collision with added fasteners
VDAF Simulation Visualize and simulate CNC drilling and fastening machines using the same NC program code that will be run on the machine. Simulation is independent from programming, and VDAF can simulate NC programs from any programming system for any CNC-automated drilling and fastening machine.
VDAF Programming Add-on Option This add-on module to VDAF gives you the ability to create NC programs for CNC auto-drilling and fastening machines. Fasteners are displayed in a tree dialog that allows you to group fastener types under tree branches and order them as needed.
VERICUT Drilling & Fastening is based on industry leading VERICUT Software. VDAF is designed to create and simulate NC programs for automatic drilling and fastening machines, also called “layer drilling” or “riveting” machines.
Product Descriptions
VDAF Simulation The base simulation software is used to visualize and simulate drilling and fastening from NC program code. VDAF simulation is a universal software application capable of simulating multiple CNC auto-drilling or auto-fastening machines. A single license can simulate multiple different machines using a VERICUT Machine Configuration (VMC) configured for each machine. Every VDAF implementation requires at least one VMC.
VDAF simulates machine motion directly from NC program files to check for collisions and other potential process problems. VDAF simulation also checks specific auto-driller/fastener actions, such as: proper drilling and fastening through the stack, appropriate tool selection for specified hole or fastener parameters, properly inserted fastener for given hole and stack call-out, collisions with inserted fasteners. A Tool Library organizes the drills and countersinks to be used in a simulation session. A Fastener Library contains models of specific fasteners that can be inserted by NC program commands.
VDAF Programming Add-on Option This add-on module to VDAF Simulation creates NC programs for automatic drilling and fastening. This is a universal software application capable of programming many CNC auto-driller/fastener machines. A single license can program multiple different machines using a post-processor configured for each machine.
The assembly to be programmed within VDAF contains an individual part model for each member of the CAD assembly, located in its proper assembled position. Each part’s material is identified, as well as the clamp surface and any fixturing. VDAF’s fastener locations are created from the CAD model’s fastener locations and attributes, as read by the custom-tailored fastener reader utility. Fastener locations contain the attributes of a fastener and its location in the assembly. The set of fasteners and their attributes define the drill and fastener cycles to be used.
One or more reference locations may be selected, typically at Drilled at Assembly (DA) holes or temporary fastener locations. These selections invoke machine reference operations, but typically do not affect nominal locations in the NC program. Hole or fastener locations are grouped by local and global reference locations. Designating and activating reference holes create commands in the NC program to align the operation to the physical part.
Fasteners and operations are displayed in a tree dialog. The tree layout allows the user to group fasteners under tree branches and order and re-order them as needed. The user interface clearly identifies the fasteners that have been processed and those that have not. Fastener information can also be displayed in different ways to meet other user requirements. For example, fasteners may be displayed by type, diameter, length, etc. The VDAF Programming Add-on Option requires a VDAF Simulation base license.
VERICUT Machine Configuration (VMC) A VMC reads the auto-drilling/fastening NC program for a specific machine. It contains the definition of all drilling, fastening, utility cycles, and functions used in the NC program. It then emulates the CNC control logic necessary to accomplish a simulation of the NC program on the specific machine, including simulated fastener insertion. Simulated fastener insertion requires CAD models of the various fasteners that will be used in the assembly process (stored and organized in the Fastener Library).
Post-processor The post-processor formats the auto-drilling /fastening paths created in VERICUT for a specific machine. The post-processor contains the definition of all drilling, fastening, utility cycles, and functions used in the NC program.
Other Possible Requirements
CATIA V5 Model Interface Reads CATIA V5 native assembly files (.CATProduct) into VDAF Simulation and Programming.
Custom Fastener Object Reader A custom script running inside the CAD system that reads user-defined fastener information and converts it into a VERICUT fastener file, in preparation for programming and simulation. This script is custom-written for each end-user implementation.
Vistagy SyncroFIT Interface A standard interface for reading the assembly, fastener definition, and process information from SyncroFIT’s Airframe Design Environment, and prepares files for programming and simulation in VDAF.
Airbus is selling so well that the demand to increase build rate has never been higher. BAE Systems (Filton, UK) needed a simple way to improve throughput - it found the answer in VERICUT.
With VERICUT, engineers at Stellex Monitor modeled the Sidewinder and Spar Mill machines.
Tell Tool of Westfield, Mass., has integrated VERICUT CNC simulation software into its numerical control program prove-out process.
VERICUT enabled us to start ordinary production after a minimum of time. Since this product is new for Volvo Aero Norge and our company had never before had parts with similar machining complexity, it is difficult to estimate the amount of cost saving.
Before implementing VERICUT, the company experienced the usual time-consuming and expensive manufacturing problems related to NC program prove-outs such as scrap loss, broken tooling, and a danger of occasional machine crash.
Over the last two years, GE Aviation (formerly Aerostructures Hamble) has used Machine Simulation to speed the implementation of several new 5-axis machine tools.
Dassault, Seclin initially purchased VERICUT in order to reduce the number of manual prove-outs using polystyrene material, which represented a significant expense in terms of time and money.
VERICUT enabled the designers and programmers see exactly what they were building as and in-process model in different stages of the machining cycle.
We utilized VERICUT to verify the CNC programs for cutting the tooling before they were sent to the machine control,
To protect their investment, they have been using VERICUT since 1996. They have two people to verify the accuracy of their G-code files.
VERICUT showed the NC programmers leftover or heavy stock." And the software detected a couple of places where the depth of cut was too large and tools were shanking out," said Collings. They then went back and corrected the errors in the tool path before
"When we first started using OptiPath we concentrated on the feed rate option; now we use the constant chip thickness capability. With jobs up to 200 hours long, 50% saving is significant like having another machine tool."
The entire process took less than two hours and no manpower was required, whereas, creating the same pattern manually (the old way), would have taken one of our designers several days.
The verification process stays ahead of the actual machine position in the NC code being verified. Opera-tors can see errors before they occur.
The bottom line? Using VERICUT has made Supreme's existing machine tools more productive. Enthusiasm is up, delivery times have been reduced, and pricing is more competitive.delivery times have been reduced, and pricing is more competitive.
Using VERICUT to compare the electrode burn with the mold cavity ensures that we have all the correct clearances in the electrodes and that we have 100% clean-up." says Allen.
If I was using VERICUT at the time I would've caught the problem, and had a chance to fix it before it damaged the part.
Now I rarely see the potential crashes because the students find and correct them before I review the work. Catching those costly problems is a non-event now!
VERICUT can change speeds and feeds according to cutting conditions including difference in material and tooling. It is done automatically; the programmer does not have to make even one manual insert into the code."
Flying shrapnel from shattered cutting tools and components is avoided by using VERICUT to test student programs before they are run on NC machines.
The NC programmers at Ingersoll also rely on the simulation software to prevent mistakes when programming complex, five-axis parts.
After creating the NC programs in Mastercam, they began simulating the machining process in VERICUT by simulating the G-code data. There often can be a difference between the motion as programmed and the code after it's run through the post processor
After selecting VERICUT for third-party verification, each NC programmer attended two days of basic training where they experienced first-hand the type of results they could expect to achieve.
The program simulates milling, drilling, turning, wire EDM, and mill/turn machining operations using both G-codes and CAM output.
VERICUT provides simulation capabilities for the all the 3-5 axis and wire EDM parts, with focused control over the orientation of our 5-axis machine tool including the cutters used on that machine.
The inspection probe is created as a tool in VERICUT so the complete in- cycle gauging sequence is checked for collisions.
The bottom was machined first. This effort took about 24 hours from start to finish. By using VERICUT software from CGTech, Elliot was able to test the NC program for any problems before it was ever cut on the machine.
Cosworth Racing Integrates Walter TDM Tool Management into Manufacturing Systems
With data exported from NX, Vericut simulates the cutting process on the shop floor utilizing the machine G-code to detect any issues prior to NC Program release.
VERICUT software removes this potentially hazardous stage by allowing ReedHycalog to do all of their prove-outs on a computer.
VERICUT verification detects errors such as: inaccurate programming, incorrect tool path motions, rapid motion contact, collisions with fixtures and clamps, tool shank and holder collisions, & CAD/CAM and post processor bugs.
VERICUT Machine Simulation supports G-codes and Multi-axis (5-axis or more) support for milling, drilling, turning, grinding & EDM machines
